Water purifying filter

ABSTRACT

A water purifying filter has a cylindrical inner housing to receive a filter therein, and an outer housing to receive the inner housing. The inner housing and the outer housing are spaced apart from each other to form an insulation space configured to suppress heat transfer and to reduce the filter freezing inside the inner housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/648,585 filed on Jul. 13, 2017, which claims thepriority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0088669 filedon Jul. 13, 2016, and of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0069225,filed on Jun. 2, 2017, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, thedisclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a water purifying filter forfiltering foreign materials included in water.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, among refrigerators, there are refrigerators including adispenser configured to supply water or an ice maker configured toautomatically make ice.

Among refrigerators, there are refrigerators including a dispenserconfigured to supply water or an ice maker configured to automaticallymake ice, and such refrigerators include a water supply apparatusconfigured to receive water from an external water supply source andsupply the water to the dispenser or the ice maker.

The refrigerator including the water supply apparatus includes a waterpurifying filter for filtering foreign materials included in water andsupplies the water to the dispenser or the ice maker after filtering theforeign materials included in the water supplied from an external watersupply source.

The water purifying filter includes a filter therein, such as a carbonblock, capable of adsorbing foreign materials, and the materialsfiltered from the water are gradually accumulated in the filter whilethe filter is used. Accordingly, performance of the water purifyingfilter is gradually declined, and thus the water purifying filter has tobe replaced after a predetermined period has elapsed.

Accordingly, the water purifying filter is detachably installed in therefrigerator and is separated from the refrigerator after being used fora predetermined period, and a new water purifying filter is installedand used in the refrigerator.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an aspect of the disclosure to provide a waterpurifying filter capable of reducing freezing that may occur when beingused in a refrigerator.

In addition, it is another aspect of the disclosure to provide a waterpurifying filter capable of reducing damage due to an external impactand water leaking caused thereby.

In addition, it is still another aspect of the disclosure to provide arefrigerator in which a water purifying filter may be more stablyconnected to a connection valve.

Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows and, in part, will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a water purifying filtermay include a filter, an inner housing formed in a circular tube shape,configured to accommodate the filter, and configured to guide water tothe filter, and an outer housing configured to accommodate the innerhousing, wherein, while the inner housing is accommodated in the outerhousing, the inner housing and the outer housing are spaced apart fromeach other to form an insulation space configured to suppress heattransfer therebetween.

The inner housing and the outer housing may include ends spaced apartfrom each other by a first gap and ends spaced apart from each other bya second gap which is greater than the first gap, and the insulationspace is filled with air to form an air layer.

The outer housing may be formed in a rectangular tube shape, and oneside of the outer housing is open to accommodate the inner housing.

One side of the inner housing may be open and one side of the outerhousing, corresponding to the one side of the inner housing, may beopen. The water purifying filter may further include a connecting capconfigured to cover the open sides of the inner housing and the outerhousing.

The connecting cap may include a cap configured to cover the open onesides of the inner housing and the outer housing, an inner fixerconfigured to extend from the cap toward the inner housing in a circulartube shape, wherein the open one side of the inner housing is fixed bythe inner fixer, and an outer fixer configured to extend from the captoward the outer housing in a rectangular tube shape, wherein the openone side of the outer housing may be fixed by the outer fixer.

The open inner housing and the inner fixer may be spin-welded.

The water purifying filter may further include a support rib configuredto provide support between the outer housing and the inner housingspaced apart from each other.

One side of the inner housing may be open and one side of the outerhousing, corresponding to the one side of the inner housing may be open.The support rib protrudes from one of an inner surface of the other sideof the outer housing opposite the one side of the outer housing and anouter surface of the other side of the inner housing opposite the oneside of the inner housing and is supported by the other one.

The support rib may protrude from one of an outer circumferentialsurface of the inner housing and an inner surface of the outer housingand may be supported by the other one.

The outer housing may further include a stopper formed in a shapecorresponding to an installation hole, wherein the water purifyingfilter may be installed at the other side of the installation hole.

The outer housing may further include a body configured to accommodatethe inner housing and a rotary guide provided between the stopper andthe body in a cylindrical shape and configured to guide rotation of thewater purifying filter, and the water purifying filter may be rotatedand coupled to a connection valve included in the installation hole whenthe rotary guide is positioned in the installation hole.

Corners formed between surfaces of the outer housing may be formed asrounding portions having curved surfaces, and the water purifying filtermay rotate while the rounding portions are supported by a guide memberin the installation hole.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a water purifying filtermay include a filter, an inner housing formed in a circular tube shape,configured to accommodate the filter, and configured to guide water tothe filter, and an outer housing formed in a rectangular tube shape andconfigured to accommodate the inner housing, wherein, while the innerhousing is accommodated in the outer housing, the inner housing and theouter housing are spaced apart from each other to form an insulationspace configured to suppress heat transfer therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent andmore readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplaryembodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a refrigerator to be applied a waterpurifying filter according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an installation of the waterpurifying filter to the refrigerator according to the embodiment of thedisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the water purifying filterand an installation guide device of the refrigerator according to theembodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the water purifying filteraccording to the embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the water purifyingfilter according to the embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A′ in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B′ in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the water purifying filteraccording to the embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating one end of thewater purifying filter according to the embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the other end of the waterpurifying filter according to the embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view illustrating the installation guide deviceprovided in the refrigerator for mounting the water purifying filteraccording to the embodiment of the disclosure;

FIGS. 12 to 14 are cross-sectional views illustrating a process in whichthe water purifying filter according to the embodiment of the disclosureis installed in the installation guide device of the refrigerator;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a position of a stopperbefore the water purifying filter according to the embodiment of thedisclosure is rotated;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a position of a stopper afterthe water purifying filter according to the embodiment of the disclosureis rotated;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a water purifying filter accordingto another embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, the examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodimentsare described below to explain the disclosure by referring to thefigures.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to one or more embodiments of thedisclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawingsin detail.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a refrigerator to which a water purifyingfilter 20 according to an embodiment of the disclosure is applied mayinclude a main body 10 provided with a storage compartment 10 a and adoor 11 configured to open or close the storage compartment 10 a. Adispenser (not shown) configured to supply water or ice maker (notshown) is disposed in the door 11.

The water purifying filter 20 is installed in the storage compartment 10a of the main body 10 and filters water, which will be supplied to thedispenser (not shown) or the ice maker (not shown), to remove foreignmaterials included in the water.

In the embodiment, the water purifying filter 20 is separably installedin a partition 10 b which partitions a space in the storage compartment10 a. The partition 10 b partitions the space in which drawer typestorage containers 15 are installed.

Accordingly, when the performance of the water purifying filter 20 isdegraded while the water purifying filter 20 is used, the waterpurifying filter 20 is separated from the main body 10, and a new waterpurifying filter 20 may be installed and used therein.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the main body 10 may include an installationhole 10 b-1 which is provided in the partition 10 b and in which thewater purifying filter 20 is installed and a connection valve 12provided in the installation hole 10 b-1 and connected to the waterpurifying filter 20 that has entered the installation hole 10 b-1. Inthe embodiment, the water purifying filter 20 is rotated to be coupledto the connection valve 12 while inserted into the installation hole 10b-1.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the water purifying filter 20 mayinclude a filter 21 configured to filter foreign materials included inwater, an inner housing 22 configured to accommodate the filter 21, anouter housing 23 configured to accommodate the inner housing 22, and aconnecting cap 24 configured to cover one sides of the inner housing 22and the outer housing 23 and connected to the connection valve 12 in theinstallation hole 10 b-1 while the water purifying filter 20 isinstalled in the installation hole 10 b-1.

The filter 21 may include an adsorber 21 a configured to adsorb foreignmaterials included in water, a filter housing 21 b configured to coveran outer circumferential surface of the adsorber 21 a, a first filtercap 21 c configured to cover one end of the adsorber 21 a, and a secondfilter cap 21 d configured to cover the other end of the adsorber 21 a.

The adsorber 21 a may be formed as a carbon block to adsorb foreignmaterials. The adsorber 21 a may be formed in a cylindrical shape andmay include a discharging guide hole 21 a-1 configured to guidedischarge of purified water. The discharging guide hole 21 a-1 extendsto pass through the adsorber 21 a in an axial direction.

The filter housing 21 b may be formed in a hollow tube shape and isconfigured to accommodate the adsorber 21 a therein. Here, the filterhousing 21 b is shorter than the adsorber 21 a, and thus both ends ofthe adsorber 21 a are exposed to an outside of the filter housing 21 b.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the first filter cap 21 c may include a firstcover 21 c-1 configured to cover one end of the adsorber 21 a, a firstsupport 21 c-2 supported by an inner surface of the discharging guidehole 21 a-1, a discharging guide 21 c-4 configured to guide discharge ofwater purified by the adsorber 21 a, and an inlet guide 21 c-3configured to guide water supplied from the outside to the adsorber 21a. The first support 21 c-2 and the discharging guide 21 c-4 extend froma center of the first cover 21 c-1 in both side directions and areformed to be connected to each other in a tube shape.

The discharging guide 21 c-4 is coupled to the connection valve 12 andguides purified water to the connection valve 12, and a sealing member25 formed as an O-ring is installed on an outer circumferential surfaceof the discharging guide 21 c-4.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the second filter cap 21 d may include asecond cover 21 d-1 configured to cover the other end of the adsorber 21a, a second support 21 d-3 supported by the inner surface of thedischarging guide hole 21 a-1, and a third support 21 d-2 supported bythe inner housing 22. The second support 21 d-3 and the third support 21d-2 extend from a center of the second cover 21 d-1 in both sidedirections. The second support 21 d-3 and the third support 21 d-2 areeach formed in a hollow tube shape.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 10, one end of the filter housing 21 b isspaced apart from the first cover 21 c-1, and the other end of thefilter housing 21 b is spaced apart from the second cover 21 d-1.Accordingly, two portions of the adsorber 21 a are exposed to theoutside through a space between one end of the filter housing 21 b andthe first cover 21 c-1 and a space between the other end of the filterhousing 21 b and the second cover 21 d-1.

The inner housing 22 is formed in a circular tube shape having apredetermined length, one side thereof is open so that water can flow,the other side is closed so that water does not leak, and thus the innerhousing 22 guides the water to the filter 21. Accordingly, the innerhousing 22 is formed in a substantially hollow cylindrical shape andconfigured to accommodate the filter 21 therein. Since the inner housing22 is formed in a circular tube shape, the inner housing 22 has acircular inner circumferential surface. Accordingly, even when waterpressure is transmitted by water introduced into an inside of the innerhousing 22, the water pressure is not focused on a specific portion ofthe inner housing 22, but is uniformly dispersed and acts on the entireinner circumferential surface of the inner housing 22. Accordingly, theinner housing 22 formed in a circular tube shape has excellent pressureresistance.

The inner housing 22 may include a seating rib 22 a which protrudes froman inner surface of the other end of the closed inner housing 22 in acircular tube shape and in which the third support 21 d-2 is seated.

The outer housing 23 forms an exterior of the water purifying filter 20.The outer housing is formed in a rectangular tube shape having apredetermined length, one side thereof corresponding to the open innerhousing 22 is open so that the outer housing 23 may accommodate theinner housing 22, and the other side is closed for forming a sealedinsulation space. Accordingly, the outer housing 23 is formed in asubstantially rectangular tube shape in which one side is open, and theinner housing 22 is installed through the open one side of the outerhousing 23.

Here, the inner housing 22 and the outer housing 23 are spaced apartfrom each other for forming the insulation space. In the embodiment, theinsulation space is filled with air to form an air layer, and the airlayer configured to fill the insulation space between the inner housing22 and the outer housing 23 serves to suppress movement of heat.

As described above, since the inner housing 22 is formed in asubstantially circular tube shape, and the outer housing 23 is formed ina substantially rectangular tube shape, as illustrated in FIG. 8,centers of four surfaces forming the outer housing 23 are each spacedapart from the inner housing 22 by a first gap G1, corners of the outerhousing 23 are each spaced apart from the inner housing 22 by a secondgap G2, which is greater than the first gap G1.

Accordingly, since cold air transmitted to the filter 21 in the waterpurifying filter 20 is reduced by the insulation space formed betweenthe inner housing 22 and the outer housing 23, occurrence of freezingthe filter 21 due to the cold air can be reduced.

In addition, even when any one of the inner housing 22 and the outerhousing 23 is damaged due to an external impact and the like, waterleaking from the water purifying filter 20 to the outside can beprevented.

In particular, when the outer housing 23 is formed in a rectangular tubeshape as described above, and the water purifying filter 20 falls downand collides with the ground surface due to a user's mistake, there is ahigh possibility of the corners of the outer housing 23 colliding withthe ground surface. Since the corners of the outer housing 23 are eachspaced a part from the inner housing 22 by the relatively big second gapG2, impact transmitted to the inner housing 22 and damage of the innerhousing 22 caused thereby can be reduced due to the shape of the outerhousing 23. In addition, as described above, since the water purifyingfilter 20 is formed as a dual structure including the inner housing 22and the outer housing 23, the water purifying filter 20 may haveexcellent pressure resistance due to the inner housing 22, and the outerhousing 23 may also be formed in any shape. That is, the outer housing23 may be formed in a polygonal tube shape other than the abovedescribed rectangular tube shape and may also be formed in an oval tubeshape or a combinational tube shape of flat and curved surfaces.

The outer housing 23 may include a body 23 a configured to accommodatethe inner housing 22, a stopper 23 b provided at one side of the body 23a and configured to cover the installation hole 10 b-1, and a handle 23c provided on the stopper 23 b so that a user may grip the waterpurifying filter 20 and apply a force thereto. In the embodiment, thebody 23 a and the stopper 23 b are each formed in a substantiallyrectangular shape to correspond to the installation hole 10 b-1. Thebody 23 a, the stopper 23 b, and the handle 23 c which form the outerhousing 23 are integrally formed when the outer housing 23 is injectionmolded.

In addition, the water purifying filter 20 may include a support rib 23e configured to provide support between the spaced inner housing 22 andthe outer housing 23 to maintain a state in which the outer housing 23is spaced apart from the inner housing 22.

In the embodiment, the support rib 23 e protrudes from an inner surfaceof the outer housing 23 and is supported by an outer surface of theinner housing 22.

The support rib 23 e protrudes from an inner surface of the other sideof the outer housing 23, which is a side opposite the open one side ofthe outer housing 23, and is supported by an outer surface of the otherside of the inner housing 22 which is a side opposite the open one sideof the inner housing 22. As described above, since the handle 23 c isprovided at the other side of the outer housing 23, the support rib 23 eprotrudes from a rear surface of the handle 23 c and supports the outersurface of the other side of the inner housing 22.

The support rib 23 e protrudes from the inner surface of the other sideof the outer housing 23 and supports the inner surface of the other sideof the inner housing 22, but is not limited thereto. Although notillustrated in the drawings, the support rib 23 e may also protrude fromthe outer surface of the other side of the inner housing and besupported by the inner surface of the other side of the outer housing.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 17, a support rib 23 f may alsoprotrude from the inner surface of the outer housing 23 and support anouter circumferential surface of the inner housing 22, and although notillustrated in the drawings, the support rib may also protrude from theouter circumferential surface of the inner housing and be supported bythe inner surface of the outer housing.

However, the support ribs 23 e and 23 f are not essential, and thesupport rib 23 e may also be omitted.

The handle 23 c is integrally formed with the body 23 a, but is shown asan example, and the handle 23 c is not limited thereto. That is, thehandle and the outer housing may be individually manufactured, then thehandle may be fixed to the outer housing, and thus the handle may alsobe formed on the outer housing.

Since the installation hole 10 b-1 is formed in a rectangular shape andthe body 23 a and the stopper 23 b are each formed in a rectangularshape as described above, a user cannot rotate the water purifyingfilter 20 while the body 23 a of the outer housing 23 passes through theinstallation hole 10 b-1.

However, as described above, since the water purifying filter 20 isrotated to be coupled to the connection valve 12, a rotary guide 23 d isprovided in a cylindrical shape between the body 23 a and the stopper 23b so that the water purifying filter 20 may be rotated.

Accordingly, when the water purifying filter 20 is inserted into theinstallation hole 10 b-1, and the rotary guide 23 d of the outer housing23 is located in the installation hole 10 b-1, a user may rotate thewater purifying filter 20 by applying a force thereto using the handle23 c.

The connecting cap 24 is connected to the connection valve 12 to guidewater introduced through the connection valve 12 to the filter 21. Theconnecting cap 24 may include a cap 24 a configured to cover open onesides of the inner housing 22 and the outer housing 23, an inner fixer24 b configured to extend from the cap 24 a toward the open one side ofthe inner housing 22 and configured to fix the open one side of theinner housing 22, and an outer fixer 24 c configured to extend from thecap 24 a toward the open one side of the outer housing 23 and configuredto fix the open one side of the outer housing 23. The inner fixer 24 bis spaced inwardly apart from the outer fixer 24 c, the inner fixer 24 bhas a circular tube shape to correspond to the inner housing 22, and theouter fixer 24 c has a rectangular tube shape to correspond to the outerhousing 23.

Since the inner housing 22 and the inner fixer 24 b are each formed in acircular tube shape, the inner housing 22 and the inner fixer 24 b arefixed to each other using spin fusion which is performed by frictionalheat generated by rotating any one of the inner housing 22 and theconnecting cap 24 in a state in which the open one side of the innerhousing 22 is in contact with the inner fixer 24 b. In addition, theouter housing 23 in a rectangular tube shape is fixed by the outer fixer24 c configured to extend in a rectangular tube using one of variouswelding methods such as a spot welding.

However, the above-described method of fixing the inner housing 22 andthe outer housing 23 to the connecting cap 24 is shown as one example,and is not limited thereto.

The water purifying filter 20 is coupled to the connection valve 12 bythe connecting cap 24. The connecting cap 24 may include a connector 24d configured to extend from a center of the cap 24 a, is coupled to theconnection valve 12, and receives water from the connection valve 12,and a coupling hook 24 e configured to integrally protrude from aportion adjacent to the connector 24 d so that the water purifyingfilter 20 may be coupled to the connection valve 12, for connecting withthe connection valve 12. In the embodiment, two coupling hooks 24 e aredisposed to be spaced apart from each other in a circumferentialdirection.

Sealing members 26 in an O-ring shape is installed on an outer side ofthe connector 24 d for preventing water leak in a state in which theconnector 24 d is coupled to the connection valve 12.

Meanwhile, the connection valve 12 is formed in a cylindrical shapehaving open one side so that the connector 24 d may be accommodated inthe connection valve 12, and may include a coupling jaw 12 a which isformed on an inner circumferential surface of the connector 24 d and inwhich the above-described coupling hooks 24 e rotate to be coupledthereto. In the embodiment, the connection valve 12 may include twocoupling jaws 12 a disposed to be spaced apart from each other in acircumferential direction to correspond to the two coupling hooks 24 eprovided in the water purifying filter 20.

In the embodiment, the coupling jaw 12 a is formed to extend apredetermined distance in a circumferential direction and obliquelyextends in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, when the waterpurifying filter 20 is rotated, the coupling hook 24 e moves along thecoupling jaw 12 a and the water purifying filter 20 moves in an entrancedirection of entering thereof. The connection valve 12 is connected to awater supply pipe 13 configured to supply water to be purified to theconnection valve 12, and a water drain pipe 14 configured to send waterpurified by passing through the filter 21 of the water purifying filter20 to the dispenser (not shown) or the ice maker (not shown).

As described above, in a state in which the connecting cap 24 and theconnection valve 12 are coupled, water flows into the water purifyingfilter 20 through a space between an outer surface of the dischargingguide 21 c-4 and an inner surface of the connector 24 d. The watercontinuously passes through the inlet guide 21 c-3 and flows into aspace between the inner housing 22 and the filter 21. The water flows tothe adsorber 21 a through a space between one end of the filter housing21 b and the first cover 21 c-1, and a space between the other end ofthe filter housing 21 b and the second cover 21 d-1, and passes throughthe adsorber 21 a by water pressure. Since foreign materials included inthe water are adsorbed onto the adsorber 21 a while passing through theadsorber 21 a, the water is purified. The water, of which the foreignmaterials are completely adsorbed onto the adsorber 21 a, sequentiallypasses through the discharging guide hole 21 a-1, the first support 21c-2, and the discharging guide 21 c-4, and is sent to the connectionvalve 12.′

In addition, the main body 10 may include an installation guide device30 provided in the installation hole 10 b-1 and configured to guide thewater purifying filter 20 inserted through the installation hole 10 b-1to be stably coupled to the connection valve 12.

The installation guide device 30 serves to accurately connect the waterpurifying filter 20 to the connection valve 12. In addition, theinstallation guide device 30 serves to couple a standard water purifyingfilter 20 to the connection valve 12 and also servers not to couple anon-standard water purifying filter to the connection valve 12.

The installation guide device 30 may include a pressure lever 31configured to press downward the water purifying filter 20 insertedthrough the installation hole 10 b-1 and a guide member 32 configured tosupport the water purifying filter 20. The pressure lever 31 is disposedabove the water purifying filter 20 that has entered the installationhole 10 b-1 and presses downward the water purifying filter 20 so thatthe water purifying filter 20 may move while supported by the guidemember 32.

In the embodiment, one end of the pressure lever 31 is fixedly installedin the main body 10, and the other end is formed as a leaf springinstalled to protrude toward an entering path of the water purifyingfilter 20. To this end, the pressure lever 31 may include a fixer 31 afixed in the main body 10, a pressure part 31 b configured to protrudetoward the entering path of the water purifying filter 20 that hasentered the installation hole 10 b-1 and configured to apply a downwardforce to the water purifying filter 20, and an elastic part 31 cprovided between the fixer 31 a and the pressure part 31 b andconfigured to exert an elastic force.

The pressure part 31 b is obliquely disposed on the entering path of thewater purifying filter 20, is gradually moved upward by moving of thewater purifying filter 20, and is formed in a substantially U shape tocorrespond to an upper portion of the water purifying filter 20.

The elastic part 31 c is formed as the leaf spring which is bent toexert the elastic force.

The guide member 32 may include a guide surface 32 a configured tosupport an outer side of the water purifying filter 20 that has enteredthe installation hole 10 b-1, that is a lower side of the outer housing23. The guide surface 32 a is formed in an arc shape to guide rotationof the water purifying filter 20, and since the outer housing 23 isformed in the rectangular shape as described above, the guide surface 32a has a radius of curvature corresponding to a half of a diagonal lengthof the outer housing 23. Accordingly, the water purifying filter 20 mayenter the installation hole 10 b-1 and rotate in a state in which thecorners of the outer housing 23 are supported by the guide surface 32 a.

Meanwhile, four corners formed between four surfaces of the outerhousing 23 are each formed as a rounding portion 23 a-1 having a curvedsurface as illustrated in FIG. 8. Accordingly, when the water purifyingfilter 20 is rotated, since the water purifying filter 20 is rotatedusing the rounding portion 23 a-1 having the curved surface whilesupported by the guide surface 32 a having a curved surface, the waterpurifying filter 20 may be rotated easily.

In addition, in the embodiment, two guide members 32 are provided, andtwo guide members 32 are laterally spaced apart from each other. This isfor allowing a front end of a non-standard water purifying filter tofall downward through a space between the two guide members 32 when thenon-standard water purifying filter, which is smaller than a standardsize, is installed through the installation hole 10 b-1. That is, in acase of a water purifying filter which is smaller than a standard size,since the water purifying filter cannot be supported by the guidesurface 32 a, a front end of the non-standard water purifying filter ispushed downward by the pressure lever 31 and falls downward through thespace between the two guide members 32.

In addition, a locking member 33 configured to prevent a non-standardwater purifying filter 20 from moving toward the connection valve 12 isprovided between the two guide members 32. In the embodiment, thelocking member 33 may include a locking jaw 33 a configured to protrudefrom an upper surface of the locking member 33, and the front end of anon-standard water purifying filter that has entered the installationhole 10 b-1 and moved downward by the pressure lever 31 is locked by thelocking jaw 33 a.

In the embodiment, the installation guide device 30 may include thepressure lever 31, the guide member 32, and the locking member 33, butthis is shown as one example, and the installation guide device 30 isnot limited thereto. That is, even when the installation guide device 30may include only the guide member 32, since a non-standard waterpurifying filter falls downward due to the weight thereof, and may notbe coupled to the connection valve 12, the pressure lever 31 and thelocking member 33 may be omitted.

Hereinafter, an operation of installing the above-described waterpurifying filter 20 in the installation hole 10 b-1 of the main body 10will be described in more detail.

First, when the water purifying filter 20 is inserted into theinstallation hole 10 b-1 as illustrated in FIG. 12, since the outerhousing 23 of the water purifying filter 20 is formed in a rectangularbox shape, the water purifying filter 20 enters the installation hole 10b-1 along the installation hole 10 b-1 formed in the rectangular shape.Here, since the corners of the outer housing 23 that has entered theinstallation hole 10 b-1 are supported by the guide surface 32 a, thewater purifying filter 20 moves straight toward and enters theconnection valve 12.

When the water purifying filter 20 moves a predetermined distance ormore into the installation hole 10 b-1, the front end of the waterpurifying filter 20 comes into contact with the pressure part 31 b ofthe pressure lever 31 configured to protrude toward the entering path ofthe water purifying filter 20. When the water purifying filter 20continuously moves toward the connection valve 12, the pressure part 31b moves upward while the elastic part 31 c is elastically changed, and adownward force is applied to the water purifying filter 20 by an elasticrestoring force of the elastic part 31 c.

However, as described above, since the corners of the outer housing 23in the water purifying filter 20 are supported by the guide surface 32a, a force transmitted through the pressure part 31 b of the pressurelever 31 serves to maintain a state in which the corners of the outerhousing 23 (that is, the rounding portions 23 a-1) are supported by theguide surface 32 a. Accordingly, the front end of the water purifyingfilter 20 does not move downward but directly moves straight toward theconnection valve 12.

When the front end of the water purifying filter 20, that is theconnector 24 d, arrives at the connection valve 12 as illustrated inFIG. 13, the rotary guide 23 d of the outer housing 23 is positioned ata position corresponding to the installation hole 10 b-1. In such astate, since the water purifying filter 20 is rotatable, when a userrotates the water purifying filter 20 using the handle 23 c, the waterpurifying filter 20 is rotated as illustrated in FIG. 14, and thecoupling hook 24 e of the connecting cap 24 is coupled to the couplingjaw 12 a of the connection valve 12, and thus the water purifying filter20 is coupled to the connection valve 12. In addition, the waterpurifying filter 20 simultaneously moves toward an inside of theinstallation hole 10 b-1 and the stopper 23 b of the outer housing 23closes the installation hole 10 b-1, and thus the water purifying filter20 is completely installed.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 15, before the water purifyingfilter 20 rotates, the stopper 23 b protrudes forward from theinstallation hole 10 b-1, or a position of the stopper 23 b ismisaligned with the installation hole 10 b-1 in a circumferentialdirection.

On the other hand, when the water purifying filter 20 is rotated and theconnecting cap 24 is coupled to the connection valve 12, as illustratedin FIG. 16, not only the stopper 23 b closes the installation hole 10b-1, but also positions of the installation hole 10 b-1 and the stopper23 b are the same.

Accordingly, a user may determine whether the connecting cap 24 of thewater purifying filter 20 is coupled to connection valve 12 using theposition of the stopper 23 b.

Next, although not illustrated in the drawings, a case in which anon-standard water purifying filter is installed in a refrigerator willbe described.

When a water purifying filter which is bigger than a standard size isinserted into the installation hole 10 b-1, the water purifying filterwhich is bigger than the standard size cannot pass through theinstallation hole 10 b-1 formed in a rectangular shape.

In addition, a water purifying filter having a size which is smallerthan that of the installation hole 10 b-1 may pass through theinstallation hole 10 b-1 but moves toward the connection valve 12 whilenot supported by the guide surface 32 a.

When the water purifying filter which is smaller than the standard sizemoves a predetermined distance or more into the installation hole 10b-1, a downward force is applied to a front end of the water purifyingfilter which is smaller than the standard size by the pressure part 31 bof the pressure lever 31 configured to protrude toward the entering paththereof. As described above, in the case of the water purifying filterwhich is smaller than the installation hole 10 b-1, since the waterpurifying filter is not supported by the guide surface 32 a unlike thestandard water purifying filter 20, the front end of the water purifyingfilter which is smaller than the standard size does not overcome anelastic restoring force of the elastic part 31 c and is obliquely moveddownward by the pressure lever 31. As described above, since the lockingmember 33 is disposed between two guide members 32, the front end of thenon-standard water purifying filter is locked by the locking jaw 33 a ofthe locking member 33.

Accordingly, since a water purifying filter which is bigger than astandard size cannot pass through the installation hole 11 a formed in arectangular shape, and a front end of a water purifying filter which issmall enough to pass through the installation hole 11 a is locked by thelocking jaw 33 a of the locking member 33, a non-standard waterpurifying filter does not arrive at the connection valve 12, and thuscoupling with the connection valve 12 is prevented.

In the embodiment, although the outer housing 23 is formed in arectangular tube shape, this is for preventing a non-standard waterpurifying filter from being coupled to the connection valve 12 by theinstallation guide device 30, but the outer housing 23 may also beformed in a circular tube shape like the inner housing 22 to increaseinsulation performance of the water purifying filter 20. In this case, aradius of curvature of an outer circumferential surface of the outerhousing 23 may be the same as that of the guide surface 32 a of theguide member 32 so that the water purifying filter 20 may move straightalong a surface of the guide member 32 and be coupled to the connectionvalve 12.

In the embodiment, the pressure lever 31 is formed to include theelastic part 31 c formed as a leaf spring, but is not limited thereto,and one end of the pressure lever may be rotatably installed in therefrigerator, and the pressure lever may be elastically supported by aseparate elastic member such a torsion spring.

The water purifying filter 20 is installed in the installation hole 10b-1 provided in the partition 10 b. A water tank 40 configured to storepurified water is disposed in the partition 10 b together with the waterpurifying filter 20 and the installation guide device 30.

In the embodiment, the water purifying filter 20, the installation guidedevice 30, and the water tank 40 are installed in the partition, butthis is shown as one example, and the water purifying filter 20, theinstallation guide device 30, and the water tank 40 may be installed atvarious locations in the storage compartment 10 a such as a sidewall ofthe main body 10 and the partition which divides a refrigeratorcompartment and a freezer compartment.

In addition, the water purifying filter 20, the installation guidedevice 30, and the water tank 40 may be installed at various locations,such as the door 11 as well as a rear surface or lower portion of themain body 10 in addition to the storage compartment 10 a, according todesign.

In addition, in the embodiment, all of the water purifying filter 20,the installation guide device 30, and the water tank 40 are installedtogether in the partition 11 b, but the embodiment is not limitedthereto. Although both of the water purifying filter 20 and theinstallation guide device 30 have to be installed together, the watertank 40 may be installed at a separate location. That is, even thoughthe water purifying filter 20 and the installation guide device 30 areinstalled in the partition, an installation location of the water tank40 may be variously changed, for example, the water tank 40 is installedin the door 11 in which the dispenser or the ice maker is positioned.

In the embodiment, the insulation space formed between the inner housing22 and the outer housing 23 is filled with air, but is not limitedthereto, and a vacuum state of the insulation space may be maintained sothat heat transfer due to thermal conduction may not occur to improveinsulation performance, or the insulation space may be filled with aninsulation member, such as a foam resin having excellent insulationperformance, to improve the insulation performance of the insulationspace.

In the embodiment, the guide member 32 may include a pair of guidemembers 32 spaced apart from each other, and this is for serving allfunctions of the guide members 32 configured to guide the waterpurifying filter 20 to the connection valve 12 and to prevent a waterpurifying filter which is smaller than a standard size from beingconnected to the connection valve 12.

Accordingly, only one guide member 32 may also be disposed in theinstallation hole 10 b-1 so that the guide member 32 may serve to onlyguide the water purifying filter 20 to the connection valve 12.

As is apparent from the above description, in a water purifying filteraccording to the disclosure, since an insulation space is formed betweenan inner housing and an outer housing, freezing of a filter can bereduced.

In addition, in a water purifying filter according to the disclosure,since water leaking does not occur even when one of an inner housing andan outer housing is broken by an external impact, the water leaking fromthe water purifying filter can be reduced.

In addition, since a water purifying filter according to the disclosuremay include an inner housing and an outer housing, the water purifyingfilter can have high pressure resistance using the inner housing and canalso be formed in any shape such as a rectangular tube shape using theouter housing.

In addition, in a refrigerator to which a water purifying filteraccording to the disclosure is applied, a standard water purifyingfilter can be guided and coupled to a connection valve by aninstallation guide apparatus, but a non-standard water purifying filtercannot be coupled to the connection valve.

While one or more embodiments of the disclosure have been illustratedand described above, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and may bevariously changed or modified without departing from the scope of thedisclosure. Therefore, modified or changed embodiments are included inthe range of the claims of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A water purifying filter assembly installable inand removable from a refrigerator through a rectangular installationhole of the refrigerator, the water purifying filter assemblycomprising: an inner housing having a cylindrical tube shape and an openside; an outer housing having a rectangular tube shape and an open sidethrough which the inner housing is installable, and configured toaccommodate the inner housing inside the outer housing; and a connectingcap disposed to cover the open side of the inner housing and the openside of the outer housing, and configured to connect to a connectionvalve of the refrigerator by being rotated when the water purifyingfilter assembly is rotated, wherein the outer housing comprises: a bodyconfigured to accommodate the inner housing and having a rectangularcross section corresponding to the rectangular installation hole, an endportion disposed on an opposite side of the outer housing from the openside of the outer housing and having a rectangular cross sectioncorresponding to the rectangular installation hole, and a rotation guidedisposed between the body and the end portion and having a cylindricalcross section such that the water purifying filter assembly is rotatablewhen the rotation guide, rather than the body or the end portion withrectangular cross sections, is located in the rectangular installationhole while the water purifying filter assembly is being inserted throughthe rectangular installation hole.
 2. The water purifying filterassembly of claim 1, wherein the rotation guide has a cross sectionsmaller than a cross section of the rectangular installation hole. 3.The water purifying filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the end portioncomprises a stopper having a cross section corresponding to a crosssection of the rectangular installation hole to cover the rectangularinstallation hole when the water purifying filter assembly is coupled tothe connection valve.
 4. The water purifying filter assembly of claim 3,wherein the end portion further comprises a handle configured to receivean external force.
 5. The water purifying filter assembly of claim 1,wherein the water purifying filter assembly is prevented from beingrotated in the rectangular installation hole by a structuralinterference between the body and the rectangular installation hole whenthe body is located in the rectangular installation hole.
 6. The waterpurifying filter assembly of claim 5, wherein the structuralinterference between the body and the rectangular installation holeguides an insertion of the water purifying filter assembly into therefrigerator such that the water purifying filter assembly advances inone direction when an external force is applied, in a direction the sameas the one direction, to the water purifying filter assembly with thebody located in the rectangular installation hole.
 7. The waterpurifying filter assembly of claim 6, wherein the water purifying filterassembly is configured to be coupled to the connection valve by beingrotated while being inserted into the refrigerator, and the insertion ofthe water purifying filter assembly into the refrigerator is halted whenthe end portion is located in the rectangular installation hole.
 8. Thewater purifying filter assembly of claim 6, wherein the connecting capcomprises a coupling hook configured to be rotated to be coupled to theconnection valve when the water purifying filter assembly is rotated. 9.The water purifying filter assembly of claim 8, wherein the couplinghook comprises a slanted surface such that the water purifying filterassembly is coupled to the connection valve by being rotated while beinginserted.
 10. The water purifying filter assembly of claim 1, furthercomprising a support rib disposed between the outer housing and theinner housing and configured to support the inner housing, wherein thesupport rib is disposed inside the rotation guide.
 11. A refrigeratorcomprising a main body having a rectangular installation hole, and awater purifying filter assembly installable in and removable from themain body through the rectangular installation hole of the main body,the water purifying filter assembly comprising: an inner housing havinga cylindrical tube shape and an open side; an outer housing having arectangular tube shape and an open side through which the inner housingis installable in the outer housing; and a connecting cap disposed tocover the open side of the inner housing and the open side of the outerhousing, and configured to connect to a connection valve of therefrigerator by being rotated when the water purifying filter assemblyis rotated, wherein the outer housing comprises: a body configured toaccommodate the inner housing and having a rectangular cross sectioncorresponding to the rectangular installation hole, an end portiondisposed on an opposite side of the outer housing from the open side ofthe outer housing and having a rectangular cross section correspondingto the rectangular installation hole, and a rotation guide disposedbetween the body and the end portion and having a cylindrical crosssection such that the water purifying filter assembly is rotatable whenthe rotation guide, rather than the body or the end portion withrectangular cross sections, is located in the rectangular installationhole while the water purifying filter assembly is being inserted throughthe rectangular installation hole.
 12. The refrigerator of claim 11,wherein the connection valve is disposed inside the main body and isaccessible through the rectangular installation hole, and the main bodycomprises an installation guide device disposed inside the main body andconfigured to guide the insertion and rotation of the water purifyingfilter assembly inserted into the main body through the rectangularinstallation hole to be coupled to the connection valve.
 13. Therefrigerator of claim 12, wherein the installation guide device furthercomprises a pair of guide members configured to support a lower side ofthe outer housing of the water purifying filter assembly when the waterpurifying filter assembly is inserted into the main body through therectangular installation hole.
 14. The refrigerator of claim 13, whereineach guide member of the pair of guide members is configured to: guidethe outer housing in a direction of inserting the water purifying filterassembly when the body passes through the rectangular installation holewhile the water purifying filter assembly is being inserted into therectangular installation hole by an external force; and guide rotationof the outer housing when the rotation guide is located in therectangular installation hole while the water purifying filter assemblyis being inserted into the rectangular installation hole by an externalforce.
 15. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the pair of guidemembers are spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular toa direction of inserting the water purifying filter assembly.
 16. Therefrigerator of claim 15, wherein each guide member of the pair of guidemembers comprises a respective guide surface to support a correspondinglower side corner of the outer housing of the water purifying filterassembly, wherein each of the respective guide surfaces has an arc shapeto guide rotation of the water purifying filter assembly.
 17. Therefrigerator of claim 16, wherein the guide surface has a radius ofcurvature corresponding to half of a distance between corners of theouter housing that are diagonally opposite to each other.
 18. Therefrigerator of claim 17, wherein the outer housing further comprises around surface formed at each corner of the rectangular tube shaped outerhousing, and wherein when the water purifying filter assembly is rotatedwhile being inserted into the main body through the rectangularinstallation hole, the guide member is provided so that the roundsurface is rotatably supported by the guide surface.
 19. Therefrigerator of claim 15, wherein the installation guide device furthercomprises a locking member disposed between the pair of guide membersand located at a lower end of the pair of guide members.
 20. Therefrigerator of claim 12, wherein the installation guide device furthercomprises a pressure lever configured to press downward on an upper sideof the outer housing when the water purifying filter assembly isinserted into the main body through the rectangular installation hole.